Johnson leads Gar-Field into semi

The Battlefield Bobcats held Gar-Field star Kwasi Amponsah to just one field goal and 15 points, but Jeremiah Johnson scored 24 to carry the Indians to within a win of the state tournament Tuesday night.
The junior forward recorded 13 points in the first half, eight on a mid-range jumper from the baseline, as Gar-Field won its first Northwest Region game in four years, beating Battlefield 62-46 in Dale City.
The Indians will host William Fleming Thursday night at 7 p.m. after Fleming dispatched Stafford, 51-46 last night.
Once again, Gar-Field had to play without a starter. This time it was Tyrell Pearson, out with a torn Acromioclavicular joint in his right shoulder suffered in the Cardinal District championship last Friday, meaning Amponsah would be the biggest threat on the perimeter for the Indians and the focus of the Bobcats’ diamond-and-one defense most of the evening. (Pearson said he would be available for Thursday’s semifinal).
“It’s not fun, first of all,” Amponsah said of facing that defensive scheme. “I try to look for opportunities to get open, I try to give my teammates opportunities to do what they need to do which is give them space to drive and kick to the big folks.”
Using a penetrate-and-pass strategy, the Gar-Field guards found Johnson and and Lawrence Johnson along the baseline for quick layups or jumpers.
“That’s something we strive (to do), pulling the defense in and kicking it out,” Jeremiah Johnson said. “Whenever we can get them to collapse and kick, it’s just a layup for us.”
Eventually Battlefield’s taller players cheated towards the front court players, blocking both Johnsons and other forwards and limiting the Indians to tough shots under the hoop.
“They’re really big, long and athletic,” Johnson said. “You’ve got to keep going at them and eventually they’re going to wear down.”
Trailing by five entering the fourth quarter, Battlefield opened the period with consecutive baskets by Chris Parker — a 3-pointer followed by a fast break layup — to tie the game at 37. But Gar-Field went on a 23-3 run to take the boisterous traveling Battlefield crowd out of the game.
“When it really counts, in regionals and district play,” Battlefield coach Al Ford said, “we’ve got to score more than 46 points per game.”
Gar-Field will get a chance to avenge a 47-42 loss to William Fleming in December, something Amponsah is looking forward to, especially at home.
“That’s going to be a big advantage,” Amponsah said. “Hopefully our fans come out and cheer us on like they did today.”